Product Details

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-5- On each chapter spread, a heading poses a simple question about the featured animals or their habitats, and is followed with the answer in a succinct paragraph of large-print text. One, two, or more labeled illustrations appear on each spread-an eclectic mix of sharp color photographs and realistic paintings of representative species, simple anatomical diagrams, and some cross-sections revealing skeletons and/or internal organs. Extended captions have additional information; oval-shaped sidebars offer miscellaneous facts. Some pages are translucent; however, this is only effective in the two sections per title with an "X-Ray Vision" icon. When a specially designed, full-page painting is held up to the light, an animal's internal organs, developing embryos, other animals previously concealed, etc., are visible. While the amount of detail these brief texts can offer on any topic is necessarily limited, the books are clearly written, if loosely organized; much of the information in the captions or sidebars is general rather than specific to the section themes. The series title is more hyperbolic than accurate-while a few of the species discussed are dangerous to humans, the majority pose no threat. Rain Forest , in particular, overuses the word "scary." One section heading, "Are Rain Forests Dark and Scary?" and the caption "Meeting a jaguar in the rain forest would be very scary!" are so inane that they insult readers' intelligence. While the busy, colorful formats have definite browser appeal, there are many better-organized introductions to these animals.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library